Posted on 05/31/2015 6:32:01 PM PDT by jagusafr
FReepers - I've seen a number of folks mention that they don't have cable or dish and still watch TV. Anybody got any insight on using a digital antenna, Roku, computer and Netflix? And whether it's worth it?
Netflix streaming is $11 now, I think, and worth it for a massive number of movies and tv series, commercial free.
Netflix app is on most ‘smart’ devices.
You do need a good internet service to stream, of course.
I second that.
If you get Amazon prime there’s lots that’s free, but the new movies are $3-4 on demand.
Hook a laptop or iPad to your tv and everything is free on the net. I watch what I want when I want and don’t pay for anything. Can’t figure out why anyone pays for Hulu, Netflix, etc.
I use Roku all the time as well as Chromecast (which lets me view video and movies from my tablet on my tv).
A digital tv that has “smart” capabilities will probably offer access to Netflix, Hulu, and more included for about $10 per month.
If you join Amazon prime for a year ($99), you will gain access to numerous free movies. Amazon access can also be accessed via Roku. If your tv has the hdmi inputs, I would recommend the Roku 3 or the stick. Roku stick is on sale right now at Sam’s for $49.95. We use cable for Fox News only and may cancel anytime if rates go up....
If you choose to access any of the Internet movie services, be sure you have a fast enough net download speed.
We cut the umbilical to cable TV a couple of years back. Got a couple three ROKU boxes to stream television programs through our internet connection, and couldn’t be happier.
Thanks for the info. I do have Prime and I just watch on my computer.
Thanks for the tip!
Dish quoted us $29,95 but soon billed at $86...
also, Dish said it had several stations that they soon dropped after we subscibed
what was MOST annoying, and why we will never use DIsh again, was that they kept billing long after we told them we were quitting..... indeed, we had to write certified return receipt letters to the corporate presidente to get them to stop
Finally, most of the channels were either foreign languages or selling vacuum cleaners or coins or other stuff
or just programming we found very boring, inane, a waste of time
they had some sports... if its what you want, then consider DISH but maybe shop for alternatives too, given our experience with Dish’s billing practices
Have to mention you have to get the movies on Reddit as soon as they pop up, Youtube gets rid of them within 24 hours or so.
Become an Amazon Prime Member.
$100 per year and bene’s galore. Not just for Firestick but, also for Amazon shipping, discounts and other services.
Benelli M1 Super 90 boomstick...
Just use your old TV antenna...no such thing as a “digital antenna”. There are still VHF/UHF bands, although they lopped off all the UHF channels above channel 51. The HQ of FR is still primarily a UHF market, with only one channel moving to VHF during the digital switchover (channel 53 is now on channel 7).
If you pre-pay for 3 months of Sling TV (ESPN, Food Network, Disney, and others) you get a Roku stick for free. Sling is $15/month.
I get 17 local channels with just a $20 Radio Shack rabbit ears antenna. Transmitters are at least 20 miles away but get excellent hi-def reception.
Have multiple homes and cut the cable in half of them but still kept high-speed broadband and mobile hotspots in service. Like many have mentioned, I have free HD Over-The-Air broadcast functioning in all homes using inexpensive indoor HD antennas.
In the homes with no cable, I augment the OTA broadcasts with SiriusXM for content on Fox News Channel, CNBC, Bloomberg, CSPAN, etc. You rarely need video for these channels - just the audio is satisfactory.
I also take advantage of these On-Demand services:
- Netflix (subscription)
- Amazon Live (Pay Per View)
- YouTube
- The Blaze TV (subscription)
- Vimeo
And finally, I sometimes use Redbox for the occasional DVD rental.
Geez, on this tread I hate to admit it but I have Comcast also.
I still like Kelly File, Elementary, AD, CSI-Cyber, Reign, NCIS, Person of Interest and several that are on hiatus like Falling Sky and Longmire, though I understand that will be on Netflix when it comes back.
I have Netflix and besides besides a few things, it is not good enough to have it alone or in any combo with other providers like Amazon. Loved “Daredevil” with Vincent D’ Onofrio (Law and Order detective) however.
Fox has a good series on Western Legions right now. Just enough OReilly commentary to not cause a barf alert.
I pay $80/mo for a full communications package from a friendly national cel phone company. (Twenty-one years in the US, and the only direction they go is UP—I’m also a shareholder :-P)
The equivalent set of features through the cable company, with a mostly useless video package (I only watch ~5-10 channels, all on cable—no locals) would easily set me back ~$200/mo.
And I would most likely incur additional Internet overage charges—I’m somewhat of a nerd. (Currently part of the amorphous blob of people who test the next version of Windows NT—it’s at build 10122—and the DVDs are ~3GB, updated roughly every two weeks, *over the Internet*)
Of course, Netflix, Hulu+, Roku, and other online video services cost ~$8-15/mo, bringing me up to $115, at most. (the balance is Obamaphone taxes...)
I currently do not subscribe to an online video service, as the cost of cable TV is subsumed into my apartment lease contract.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.